Lipstick container



Oct. 25, 1949. c. SOMMER LIPSTICK CONTAINER Filed Feb. 25, 1948 3 #fr v# Irlln b f I M 0 w\\ n a M, f a

Patented Oct. 25, 1949 LIPSTICK CONTAINER Carl Sommer, Copenhagen, Denmark, assgnor to Herbert C. P. Dann, New York, N. Y.

Application February 25, 1948, Serial No. 10,595 In Denmark April 17, 1946 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires April 17, 1966 7 Claims. (Cl. 206-56) This invention relates to containers or cases for lipsticks, particularly to lipstick containers in which the lipstick proper is caused to protrude from the container by turning an actuating member.

With lipstick containers of the general type, above referred to, it is conventional to eiect the outward movement of a lipstick holder and therewith of the lipstick proper, by means of a pin supported by the lipstick holder and engaging through a spiral-shaped guiding slot in the actuating member a vertical or longitudinal groove in an outer sleeve of the container housing the actuating member and the lipstick holder proper.

l Conventional lipstick containers are usually closed by means of a removable cover which is removed before the lipstick proper is caused to protrude from the container and is replaced after use and withdrawal of the lipstick. In many instances, the use of such separate cover is inconvenient for obvious reasons.

Accordingly, it is one of the objects of the invention to provide a lipstick container which does not require a separate cover for covering and uncovering the lipstick proper.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved lipstick container which can be opened and closed by operating the same actuating member of the lipstickcontainer which also serves to protrude and withdraw the lipstick proper.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved lipstick container the open or forward end of which is normally closed by a pair of jaws which are automatically opened upon operation of the actuating member of the container and prior to the forward movement of the lipstick relative to the container, and which are automatically re-closed subsequent to the complete withdrawal of the lipstick after usee Another more specific object of the invention, allied with the preceding one, is to provide a novel and improved lipstick container in which the jaws are safely held in their open position when the lipstick protrudes from the container.

Another more specic object of the invention, allied with the preceding ones, is to provide a novel and improved lipstick container in which the automatic opening and closing movement of the jaws is effected in a simple and reliable manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved lipstick container which possesses a smooth and attractive appearance, which can be conveniently usedwithout requiring the removal of any part of the container such as a cover when used, and which permits the opening and Iclosing of the container and the protrusion and withdrawal of the lipstick proper by one and the same operation of the actuating member.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter, and appear in the appended claims forming part of the application.

In the accompanying drawing a now preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is an elevational sectional view of a lipstick container or case according to the invention, the jaws being shown in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view oi the upper part of the container, one of the jaws being shown in an intermediate position.

Fig. 3 is a similar fragmentary view, one of the jaws being shown in its fully opened position, and

Fig. 4 is a section along line A--A of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the figures in detail, the lipstick container or .case as illustrated comprises a cylindrical outer sleeve I made of metal, plastic or any other suitable material in which an inner sleeve 2 is rotatably and axially slidably supported. Sleeve 2 is telescoped into sleeve I and extended through the major portion of this sleeve. The rear or outer end of sleeve 2 forms a collar 3 by means of which sleeve 2 can be turned relative to sleeve I. Collar 3 is provided with an annular groove engaged by the rear end of sleeve I, so that no visible clearance is left between the rear edge of sleeve I and sleeve 2 when sleeves l and 2 are axially displaced relative to each other, as will be more fully described hereinafter. Sleeve I and 2 are slidably secured to each other by means of a pin 5 supported by sleeve I and engaging a guiding groove o r slot 6 in sleeve 2. Disposed within sleeve 2 is a lipstick holder I6 which serves to receive the lipstick proper (not shown) in a conventional manner. Holder I6 is shaped at its rear end to form a recess I in which a spiral spring 8 is disposed abutting against sleeve 2 and holder I6. This spring is so loaded that it will urge the holder towards the outer or forward end of the lipstick container. Holder I6 supports a pin 9 engaging through a spiralshaped guiding slot I0 in sleeve 2 a longitudinal or axial guiding groove II provided in the inner Wall of sleeve I. On the tapered or inwardly curved front end of sleeve I', there is provided a pair of pivotally supported jaws I2, each having a nose I3 arranged to engage the corresponding one of a pair of spaced notches or recesses I4 in the front or upper edge f sleeve 2. The jaws are pivoted to. Sleeve t by apvot t2! or. pivotally sup.- ported within sleeve I any other suitable manner.

Sleeve 2 serves as the actuating member or the lipstick container and causes, whenturned in one direction, jaws I2 to be pivoted into a position clearing the path of the; lipstick holden andsubsequently movement of the lipstick holder into a position in which the lipstick protrudesfrorrr the open end of sleeve l as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

Groove or slot 6 in sleeve .2f comprises; a sube. stantially horizontal short section 6., an intere mediate slanted section 6", and a longer substantially horizontal section 6'. When the' lipstick properl is withdrawn and the jaws are closed, pin ispositioned at the outer end@ of horizontal' groove section 6l, as indicated in Eig. l by dotted line I'. Jaws t2 are ycompleten7 closed and form, together with the upper curved endl of sleeve I-, an approximatelysemi-spherical cover for the container, each jaw havingl the shape of a fraction of a sphere. Slot It is bent oir to fvorma shortI substantially horizontall section l; The inner end of this extensionis turned slightly upwardly-forming a seat lil securing holder` Hil in its fully withdrawn position. As can best be seen on Fig. 1-, spiral spring 8 tends to urge pin 9 and with it the lipstick holder into seat l0, thereby preventing an accidental.y opening of the lipstick container. When pin 5 is in the position indicated by line I, pin 3 is in, the position indicated by a second dotted line I;

When now sleeve 2 is turned relative tosleeve Iv by means of collar 3, each or recesses I4V in the upper edge of sleeve 2 causes a corresponding displacement of the respective engaged driving nose I3, so that the jaws begin their pivotal opening movements. Fig. 2A shows the position of one ofthe recesses I'4 and thecorresponding jaw I2, when pin 5v has reached an intermediate position I I, in whichthe upwardly slanted section s ofl groovev 6' commen-ces Simultaneously, pin 9 of holder I-Ii` has reached the posi#- tion corresponding' toposition IIA in slot section I'f'. Aswill be apparent from,- thedrawings, holder I6I has, not yet experienced any displacement, other thana slight backwardI movement f-roxnits previously described iixed' or locked position in seat I0.

When the turning of sleeve 2 is continued' into a position corresponding to position III, that is a position inwhich pin 5 hasreached the upper end of the upwardly slanted section 6 of`V groove 6, the corresponding continued` displacementl of recesses M1 causes a correspondingpivotalI movement of noses l-3- and hence of jaws I2; At the same time, sleeve 2 is displacedslightly backwardly in axial direction relative toouter sleeve I, the extent of this backwardmovement being controlled by the slant of section` 67".

Upon continued rotation ofA sleeve 2- beyond position III, noses I3 will'- become disengaged from the corresponding-recesses l 4 and begin to ride on the upper edge ofsleeve 2; as can best be seen on Fig. 3.

The design and dimensions ofthe respective component parts arepreferably so selected that therear edges ofA jaws I2 just engage the upper edge ofsleeve 2, but, ofv course, care mustbe 4 taken that the jaws do not press too hard against the upper edge of sleeve 2.

In the position, as shown in Fig. 3, the jaws have reached their fully opened position and pin 9, is in the position indicated in Fig. 1 by the dotted linel I'IIj.K As Will be; evident, lipstick holder I6 has not yet commenced its forward displacement. When now the rotation of sleeve ,2 is continued, pin 9 enters the steep portion of spiral slot I0, thereby causing an upward displacement, at holder I6. At the same time, pin 5 travels: within the horizontal section 6" of groove Vl,y so that sleeve 2 does not experience further backward displacement relative to sleeve I. Consequently, the jaws remain in their fully opened position shown in Fig. 3 when and while the lipstick holder I6 is displaced within sleeve I in one, 0r the other direction. In other words, the jaws are secured in their open position.

When it is desired to Withdraw the lipstick and toV close the container, the rotation or sleeve 2; is reversed, thereby causing pinA 9 to slide backwardly or downwardly within slot Ifll'. Jaws l-2 remain in the opened position shown in Fig'. 3, until the lipstick holder is completely withdrawn, on in other words, until'. pin 9j has again reached the position indicated by dotted line III. When the rotation of sleev-eZ is continued in the same direction, holder IG; remains in its withdrawn position, because pin 9 nowl travels within the substantially horizontal slot section Ill. Pin 5, however, enters the slanted section 6 of groove I5',f so thatY sleeve 2' is displaced slightly upwardly relative to sleeve I1. As wili be apparent from Fig; 3;r noses I-3- are forced to re-engage the respective recesses M', partly beca-use sleeve 2- 'and with it the recesses are moved upwardly soas to engage noses r3?, and partly because the upper edge of sleeve 2L nowpresses against the rear edge of the jawsby reason of the upward movement oi sleeve 2. onsequently;l a pivotal movement is imparted to the jaws. Upon continued rotation of-A sleeve 2 recesses I4 wil=l carry noses I3 along so that the jaws are pivoted toward each other, and'` into their position, re-closine the front end of: the lipstick container (-as shown in Figs.V l: and' 4f) 'It will bey vevident that the axial4 displacement off sleeve 2 relativeto the outer sleeve ofgreat importance, inthatsuch displacement is essential for causing the pivotal movements. of the jaws by means' of' noses engaging the corresponding recesses in the` upper edge off sleeve 2:. Without a relative axial movement of the sleeves, it would perhaps be possible tov pivot the jaws into their open position,A but, nosesl i3 would not re-engage the recesses for the closing, movement-' atleast there would'v be no certainty that such re-engagement would occur.; In other words, the j aws might notv be reclosed' after havingfbeen opened.

The requiredv axial displacement ofsleeve 2 relative to sleeve I' is s0 Slight that itis hardly noticeable to a user ofthe lipstick.

A ny suitable means` to effect the desired aX-ial relative ydispla,cement can beemployed. However, it has been found that theY described pingroove arrangement' is particularly advantageous.

In this connection it shouldbe noted that the pin-groovearrangementconstitutesthe only'axial connection between the sleeves.

Groove G andl slot- Ill;` are preferably disposed v in such relative position that they do not intertive 'position of pins 5 and 9, seen in peripheral direction, can be selected.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to a certain now preferred example and embodiment of the invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore, to cover all such changes and modications in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be sei cured by Letters Patent is:

1. Lipstick container comprising an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve axially and rotatably slidable within the outer sleeve, a lipstick holder axially and rotatably slidable within and relative to the inner sleeve, a pair of jaws pivotally supported near one end of the outer sleeve and arranged to and the outer sleeve for causing axial displacement of the holder within the container upon rotation of the inner sleeve relative to the outer sleeve, and second guiding means operatively coupling the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve for causing relative axial displacement of the :ir

sleeves upon rotation of the inner sleeve within the outer sleeve, said rst and second guiding means being arranged to be subsequently operative for the purposes aforesaid, thereby causing opening and closing of the jaws prior and subsequent respectively to the axial displacement of the lipstick holder.

2. Lipstick container comprising an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve axially and rotatably slidable within the outer sleeve, a lipstick holder axially and rotatably slidable within and relative t0 the inner sleeve, a pair of jaws pivotally supported near one end of the outer sleeve and arranged to close said sleeve end in one pivotal position and to open said sleeve end in another pivotal position, said inner sleeve having a pair of spaced recesses in its edge facing the jaws, each of the jaws having a nose arranged to engage a respective recess for causing pivotal movements of the jaws in response to a rotation of the inner sleeve relative to the outer sleeve, said noses and wherein saidise'cond guiding means are arranged to telescope the inner sleeve out of the outer sleeve for a distance suicient to cause the noses of the jaws to become disengaged from the respective recesses prior to the axial displacement of the holder toward the end of the outer sleeve arranged to be closed by the jaws, thereby` causing the jaws to open prior to the aforesaid axial displacement of the holder.

4. Lipstick container as described in claim 2, wherein said second guiding means are arranged to telescope the inner sleeve into the outer sleeve for a distance suflicient to cause said noses to re-engage the recesses subsequent to a withdrawal of the holder into its withdrawn position within the outer sleeve, thereby causing the jaws to close subsequently to such withdrawal of the holder.

5. Lipstick container comprising an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve axially and rotatably slidable within the outer sleeve, a lipstick holder axially and rotatably slidable within and relative to the inner sleeve, a pair of jaws pivotally supported near one end of the outer sleeve and arranged to .close said sleeve end in one pivotal position and to open said sleeve end in another pivotal position, said inner sleeve having a pair of spaced recesses in its edge facing the jaws, each of the jaws having a nose arranged to engage a respective recess for causing pivotal movements of the jaws in response to a rotation of the inner sleeve relative to the outer sleeve,

said noses and one of the edges of each jaw beingl tial sections spaced apart in axial and peripheral one of the edges of each jaw being arranged and i positioned to ride upon the adjacent edge of the inner sleeve thereby securing the jaws in their open pivotal position, rst guiding means operatively coupling the holder, the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve for causing axial displacement of the holder within the container upon rotation of the inner sleeve relative to the outer sleeve, and second guiding means operatively coupling the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve for causing relative axial displacement of the sleeves upon rotation of the inner sleeve within the outer sleeve, said rst and second guiding means being arranged to be subsequently operative for the purposes aforesaid, thereby causing opening and closing of the jaws prior and subsequent respectively to the axial displacement'of the lipstick holder.

3, Lipstick container as described in claim 2,

. direction and joined by a slanted groove section,

and a second pin supported by said outer sleeve and extending into said groove for causing relative axial displacement of the sleeves when said second pin is moved through the slanted groove section upon rotation of the inner sleeve relative to the outer sleeve, said slot and groove being positioned in a relative position to each other so as to cause the said axial inner sleeve displacement to precede and to succeed respectively the axial holder displacement, thereby causing the jaws to open prior to and to close subsequent to the axial holder movement.

6. Lipstick container as described in claim 5, wherein said spiral slot is extended at one end to form a substantially circumferential extension so positioned as to be partly traversed by the iirst pin while the second pin traverses the slanted groove section, whereby the holder remains substantially in its withdrawn'position during the opening and closing respectively of the jaws.

'7. Lipstick container as described in claim 2, wherein said jaws are shaped to form approximately a fraction of a sphere when abutting against each other along one edge, an opposite edge of each jaw abutting against the adjacent edge of the inner sleeve when the jaws are in their opened positions.

CARL SOMMER.

(References on following page) 'Zf REEEREMES enum The iollowing references are of' record?y in the le ofi this partent;

STATES:- PA'I'ENIB.' Number Name Emie- Numle 1,695,625 Wildl Bec; .Nl-1928 230573502 Peterson Get. 1334-936 Country Dante Great. Britain 1885 

